Alabama Vehicle Power of Attorney

Q: Which form is the Alabama vehicle power of attorney?

Form MVT 5-13, titled simply Power of Attorney, published by the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division. The currently posted revision carries the line 4/21 beneath the form number. It is one page: a lettered Section A for the vehicle description, a lettered Section B pairing the taxpayer with the representative, a row of purpose checkboxes, a paragraph on the acts authorized, two taxpayer signature lines and a separate appointee signature line.

Q: Does an Alabama vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

No. The Motor Vehicle Division revised MVT 5-13 so that it no longer requires notarization, and the current form prints no notary acknowledgment block anywhere on the page. It does not use a penalty of perjury certification in place of one either. The integrity controls Alabama chose instead are printed at the foot of the form: original signatures are required, and any alteration or strikeover voids the document.

Q: Who has to sign an Alabama MVT 5-13 besides the owner?

The appointee. MVT 5-13 prints a Signature of Appointee line beneath the taxpayer signatures, with the words NOT VALID WITHOUT THIS SIGNATURE under it, so the person being given the authority has to sign and date the form before it is any use. The form also carries two taxpayer signature lines, each with its own date, so a second owner shown on the paperwork can sign the same form.

Q: Which purposes can an Alabama MVT 5-13 cover?

The form prints the choices as boxes you check. They are a title application, transfer or lien filing; an IFTA transaction; registering and purchasing license plates; a title service provider; and a line reading other purpose, describe, for anything else you spell out. Below that the form provides a line to list any specific additions to or restrictions on the acts otherwise authorized, so you can narrow the grant in writing on the face of the form.

Q: Can an Alabama power of attorney be used without describing the vehicle?

Only in one case. The title service provider checkbox is followed by the words Section A is not required, so that appointment is not tied to a single vehicle identification number. For every other purpose, Section A has to be completed: the vehicle identification number, year, make, model, body type, license plate number and the state that issued the plate.

Q: Can a business be the attorney in fact on an Alabama MVT 5-13?

Yes. The form states that if a business firm or corporation is appointed, the signature shall be of an authorized representative of the firm who will perform as attorney-in-fact for the owner. So the representative block carries the firm's name and address, and the Signature of Appointee line is signed by the individual at that firm who will actually do the signing. The business gains no ownership interest in the vehicle.

Q: Which Alabama document does the appointee sign at the license office?

The title application, form MVT 5-1C. The signature of the owner on that application may be the owner's own or that of an MVT 5-13 appointee, which is why the license office wants the original power of attorney in front of it. Plan for the appointee to carry the signed MVT 5-13 along with the rest of the transaction paperwork rather than mailing it separately.

Q: How much authority does an Alabama MVT 5-13 give over tax matters?

More than a bare title form, but with two express limits. The acts authorized paragraph says the representative may receive and inspect confidential tax information and perform any and all acts the taxpayer could perform with respect to the matters described. It then removes two powers in terms: the authority does not include the power to receive refund checks, nor the power to sign certain returns.

Alabama uses form MVT 5-13, Power of Attorney, published by the Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division. No notary is required, but both the taxpayer and the appointee must sign in original ink. Attorney review available.

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Introduction

MVT 5-13 is the number printed in the corner of the Power of Attorney that the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division publishes, beside the revision line 4/21. One page, two lettered sections, and a signature requirement most states do not have. Section A describes the vehicle: identification number, year, make, model, body type, license plate number and state of issuance. Section B sets the taxpayer against the representative, each with a name, an address, an email address and a telephone number. Between them sits the operative line, which reads that the representative is appointed as attorney-in-fact to sign the taxpayer's name and do all things necessary for the purposes checked. Those purposes are printed as boxes: a title application, transfer or lien filing; an IFTA transaction; registering and purchasing license plates; a title service provider; and a free-text line for any other purpose. Because MVT 5-13 is a Department of Revenue form rather than a bare title form, the acts authorized paragraph also lets the representative receive and inspect confidential tax information, while carving out the power to receive refund checks and to sign certain returns. Notarization is not part of it. The Motor Vehicle Division revised MVT 5-13 so that it no longer requires notarization, and the form carries no notary block at all. What it does require is two sets of original ink: the taxpayer signs, and then the appointee signs a separate line that the form marks NOT VALID WITHOUT THIS SIGNATURE. A county license office will match the appointee's signature on MVT 5-13 against the signature on the title application, form MVT 5-1C. Alterations and strikeovers void the document outright, so a corrected form has to be replaced rather than fixed. DocDraft builds your Alabama vehicle power of attorney from your facts, with attorney review available before you sign.

Key Things to Know

1
MVT 5-13 is the Alabama Power of Attorney, published by the Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division. It appoints an attorney-in-fact to sign the taxpayer's name and do all things necessary for whichever printed purposes are checked, for the motor vehicle described in Section A.
2
No notary is involved. The Motor Vehicle Division revised MVT 5-13 so that it no longer requires notarization, and the form prints no notary acknowledgment block and no penalty of perjury certification.
3
The appointee must sign as well as the owner. MVT 5-13 prints a separate Signature of Appointee line marked NOT VALID WITHOUT THIS SIGNATURE, which means an unsigned appointee line defeats the whole form.
4
The purposes are checkboxes, not a single blanket grant: a title application, transfer or lien filing; an IFTA transaction; registering and purchasing license plates; a title service provider; or any other purpose written on the line provided.
5
Checking the title service provider box means Section A, the vehicle description, is not required. Every other purpose needs the vehicle identification number, year, make, model, body type, plate number and state of issuance filled in.
6
Because this is a revenue form, the representative may receive and inspect confidential tax information, but the authority does not include receiving refund checks or signing certain returns. A line is provided for additions or restrictions.
7
Any alteration or strikeover voids the power of attorney, and original signatures are required, so a tidy replacement form beats a corrected one at the counter.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Vehicle Power of Attorney in Alabama, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Vehicle Power of Attorney guide walks through them.

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ALABAMA POWER OF ATTORNEY (FORM MVT 5-13)

Use this worksheet to gather every entry the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division asks for on form MVT 5-13, then copy the entries onto the MVT 5-13 itself and sign that form in original ink. Alterations and strikeovers void it, so finish the worksheet first.

SECTION A. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION Not required if you are checking the title service provider purpose below. Vehicle identification number (VIN), copied from the title: [VIN] Year: [YEAR] Make: [MAKE] Model: [MODEL] Body type: [BODY TYPE] License plate number: [PLATE NUMBER] State of issuance: [STATE]

SECTION B. TAXPAYER INFORMATION (THE OWNER) Taxpayer name or names, typed or printed: [FULL LEGAL NAME, as shown on the title] Address: [STREET], [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP] Email address: [EMAIL] Telephone number: [AREA CODE] [NUMBER]

SECTION B. REPRESENTATIVE (THE ATTORNEY IN FACT) Hereby appoints the following representative: Name, typed or printed: [FULL NAME OF PERSON OR FIRM APPOINTED] Address: [STREET], [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP] Email address: [EMAIL] Telephone number: [AREA CODE] [NUMBER]

PURPOSE OR PURPOSES (CHECK EVERY ONE THAT APPLIES) [ ] Title application, transfer or lien filing [ ] IFTA transaction or transactions [ ] Register and purchase license plates [ ] Title service provider (Section A is not required) [ ] Other purpose, describe: [DESCRIBE THE PURPOSE] The appointment reads: as my attorney-in-fact to sign my name and do all things necessary for the purposes checked above, for my motor vehicle described above.

ACTS AUTHORIZED The representative may receive and inspect confidential tax information and perform any and all acts the taxpayer could perform with respect to the matters described above. The authority does not include the power to receive refund checks or the power to sign certain returns.

SPECIFIC ADDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS List any additions to or restrictions on the acts otherwise authorized: [WRITE ANY LIMIT HERE, OR LEAVE BLANK]

SIGNATURES, IN ORIGINAL INK Signature of taxpayer: _______________________________ Date: [DATE] Signature of taxpayer (second owner, if any): _______________________________ Date: [DATE] Signature of appointee: _______________________________ Date: [DATE] The form prints NOT VALID WITHOUT THIS SIGNATURE beneath the appointee line. Where a business firm or corporation is appointed, the signature must be that of an authorized representative of the firm who will perform as attorney in fact.

CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU HAND IT IN

Section A is complete, unless the title service provider box is checked.
At least one purpose box is checked.
The taxpayer has signed and dated, in original ink.
The appointee has signed and dated. Without that signature the form is void.
Nothing on the page has been struck over, written over or altered.
The appointee carries the original MVT 5-13 with the title application, form MVT 5-1C, which the appointee signs for the owner.

Note: this worksheet mirrors form MVT 5-13 as published by the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division, revision 4/21. Alabama sets the form number, dropped the notarization requirement, and requires both the taxpayer and the appointee to sign in original ink. For the generic template and other states, see the Vehicle Power of Attorney hub.

Once your Vehicle Power of Attorney is ready, you can check whether it needs to be notarized in Alabama in about a minute, and notarize it online through DocDraft if it does.

Alabama Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

Form MVT 5-13, Power of Attorney
Alabama uses form MVT 5-13, titled Power of Attorney, published by the Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division. The posted revision carries the line 4/21. It appoints an attorney-in-fact to sign the taxpayer's name and do all things necessary for the purposes checked on the form.
No Notarization Required
The Motor Vehicle Division revised MVT 5-13 so that it no longer requires notarization, and the form prints no notary acknowledgment block and no penalty of perjury certification. The execution conditions printed on the form are original signatures and no alterations.
Appointee Signature, Without Which the Form Is Void
MVT 5-13 prints a Signature of Appointee line with the words NOT VALID WITHOUT THIS SIGNATURE beneath it, so the person receiving the authority must sign and date the form. Two taxpayer signature lines are also provided, each with its own date field.
Section A Vehicle Description
Section A asks for the vehicle identification number, year, make, model, body type, license plate number and the state of issuance. It must be completed for every purpose except one: checking the title service provider box means Section A is not required.
Purpose Checkboxes, Including IFTA and Plates
The purposes printed on MVT 5-13 are a title application, transfer or lien filing; an IFTA transaction; registering and purchasing license plates; a title service provider; and a free-text other purpose line. Check every box that applies before signing.
Confidential Tax Information, With Two Carve-Outs
Because this is a revenue form, the representative may receive and inspect confidential tax information and perform any and all acts the taxpayer could perform on the matters described. The authority does not include receiving refund checks or signing certain returns.
Alterations and Strikeovers Void the Form
The special notice at the foot of MVT 5-13 states that any alterations or strikeovers shall void the power of attorney and that original signatures are required. Where a firm is appointed, an authorized representative of that firm signs the appointee line.
Submit With the Title Application, Form MVT 5-1C
The signature of the owner on an Alabama certificate of title application, form MVT 5-1C, may be the owner's own or that of an MVT 5-13 appointee. The appointee should therefore carry the original MVT 5-13 with the transaction paperwork rather than filing it on its own.

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in Alabama?

Whether a Vehicle Power of Attorney needs to be notarized depends on your state. Upload yours, pick your state, and get the current rule with the official source behind it, free and with no account. If yours does need a notary, online notarization is part of your DocDraft plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which form is the Alabama vehicle power of attorney?

Does an Alabama vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

Who has to sign an Alabama MVT 5-13 besides the owner?

Which purposes can an Alabama MVT 5-13 cover?

Can an Alabama power of attorney be used without describing the vehicle?

Can a business be the attorney in fact on an Alabama MVT 5-13?

Which Alabama document does the appointee sign at the license office?

How much authority does an Alabama MVT 5-13 give over tax matters?

Find out where you stand in Alabama

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft

Alabama Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

Form MVT 5-13, Power of Attorney

No Notarization Required

Appointee Signature, Without Which the Form Is Void

Section A Vehicle Description

Purpose Checkboxes, Including IFTA and Plates

Confidential Tax Information, With Two Carve-Outs

Alterations and Strikeovers Void the Form

Submit With the Title Application, Form MVT 5-1C

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in Alabama?

Frequently Asked Questions